Before and After: A Trashy Table

July 15, 2008

Ruth Alves, the associate art director of Wish, found this table discarded behind her old office, and decided it was worth taking home. A can of semigloss white paint on its butcher block-esque top transformed it into a Saarinen look-alike perfect next to a chaise as a coffee table. To see the results, read more.

I love its heavy, mushroom-like shape. I think I might actually like it — gasp! — more than an authentic Saarinen table. What do you think? Have you found anything living room worthy in the trash? Are you a dumpster-diving diva?

Source

14 Comments

neonbrite 3 years

Table looks great, as a university student I am always on the look out for free items. Recently discovered an old shelving unit in a neighbours trash. A few minor repairs later and some yellow paint, it looks great against my boring light walls (I rent and am therefore not allowed to paint walls).

gruaig_rua 4 years

I never find anything worth taking :(

Nyrina Windu 4 years

I think they did a great job here.

Da Ly 4 years

jealous, that's such a good find. I love modifying and fixing up furniture.

clarkbar9 4 years

argh. so jealous! i've been looking for an affordable approximation of a tulip side table for months to no avail!

Stupidasscat 4 years

Im not clever enough to know where to look but my mom has found some good pieces behind Chevy's of all places

sundaygreen 4 years

I'm amazed someone would throw away a tulip table!

bizzybee 4 years

It looks great. As for me and "found" furniture, I've got a few pieces - a great deck chair and an old chest that has 3 shelves that have pull out doors with screens. I think it may've been used for vegetables back in the day.

nancita 4 years

That was definitely worth digging out of the trash.

Punk Glam Queen 4 years

Ooo I agree, it looks gorgeous! I'm all for saving things from winding up in the landfills and have been doing it for years... a sampling of what I've found: '50's formica topped table, Victorian trunk, '40's rattan/ bamboo looking chairs!